Expectations of stable GDP growth figures coupled with an overall expectation of further reform and quick notifications for the hike in foreign capital limits in defense and railways led to positive investor sentiments in the Indian equities market which made gains in the week ended Aug 28.

"Overall the markets have remained positive to the reforms. We are comfortable with the markets move in the long term. There might be certain volatility in the short-term but the over all macro-economic indications show a positive outcome," Devendra Nevgi, chief executive research firm Zyfin Advisors, told IANS.

"Positive international cues like the European and Japanese central banks stand on maintaining the interest rates will be counter to any announcements by US Fed in deciding on the stimulus cut."

The benchmark index gained 0.82 percent in the week ended Aug 28 from its previous weekly close on Aug 9. The index closed at 26,638.11 points, while it ended trade at 26,419.55 points on Aug 28.

The Indian markets, which remained closed for trading Friday on account of Ganesh Chaturthi, saw healthy buying from foreign institutional investors Thursday.

The FIIs had turned net buyers Thursday to the tune of USD87.97 million, or Rs.531.90 crore, according to data with National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) showed.

"FIIs were net buyers but buying was subdued over the week. Easing of geo-political tensions in Israel-Palestine also helped," Dipen Shah, head, private client group research, Kotak Securities, told IANS.

"Going ahead, expectations on interest rate movements in US and fiscal reforms in India will continue to drive the markets in the medium-to-long term. In the short term, geo-political issues and monsoons will be the triggers to track."

Sensex made healthy gains in the trade, surpassing its previous high of 26,530.67 points recorded Aug 19.

However, the markets had closed flat at 26,437.02 points,up 5.79 points or 0.02 percent in Tuesday's trade.

The markets closed up 117.34 points or 0.44 percent- at 26,560.15 points, in Wednesday's trade.

On Thursday, the benchmark index hit a record high of 26,674.38 points before closing the day's trade at 26,638.11 points, up 77.96 points or 0.29 percent.

It surpassed the previous high of 26,630.74 points it touched Aug 25. This was the seventh consecutive monthly gain of the benchmark index.

The major Sensex gainers were: BHEL, up 5.04 percent at Rs.240.75; GAIL, up 1.96 percent at Rs.443.80; ONGC, up 1.73 percent at Rs.435.15; Larsen and Toubro, up 1.62 percent at Rs.1,526.90; Wipro, up 1.39 percent at Rs.565.40; and ICICI Bank, up 1.01 percent at Rs.1,556.55.

The losers were: Tata Power, down 1.97 percent at Rs.86.90; Tata Steel, down 1.78 percent at Rs.513.55; State Bank of India, down 1.70 percent at Rs.2,460.45; NTPC, down 1.18 percent at Rs.137.70; Hindalco, down 1.10 percent at Rs.170.10; and Infosys, down 1.07 percent at Rs.3,594.